Tackling knife crime inspires school head's marathon

Head teacher Christina Greaves (second right) is among the team of five staff from the Southport Learning Trust running in the London Marathon

A head teacher "going out of her comfort zone" to run the London Marathon has said tackling knife crime is what inspired her to take part.

Christina Greaves is running alongside four other staff members at Southport Learning Trust in Sefton, Merseyside, as part of the #kNOwknifecrime campaign team.

They are raising funds to teach children first aid skills and increase awareness of the dangers of knife crime, as part of a week of activities, with thousands of the trust's pupils also running to raise cash for "mini medics" courses.

Ms Greaves said the trust's work with #kNOwknifecrime, set up in memory of Colin McGinty who was fatally stabbed, has "empowered" pupils to try make a difference.

#kNOwknifecrime which was launched by Mr McGinty's sister, Laura Hughes, in 2019, has been working with schools across Sefton for three years.

Ms Greaves, executive head of Kew Woods Primary School in Southport, said she contacted the campaign group over concerns about knife crime.

"We haven't had any issues with knife crime [at our school] but you couldn't escape it on social media," the 46-year-old said.

She said Ms Hughes's tragic story about her 21-year-old brother, from Crosby, who was stabbed to death in 2001 in Bootle in a case of mistaken identity had had a "huge impact" on the pupils.

"They asked really thoughtful questions and wanted to be pro-active in helping to tackle the problem," Ms Greaves said.

They have previously raised money by running relays between Bootle and Southport for bleed control kits and this year they wanted to do activities to fund mini medics training.

Laura Hughes (centre) who set up #kNOwknifecrime has been working with Kew Woods Primary School for three years

Ms Greaves, who was a regular gym-goer but never a runner, admitted to being a little apprehensive as Sunday will be the first time she has run a marathon which is 26.2 miles (42.2km).

She had a place in last year's event deferred after breaking her hip during her training.

The head teacher said she hoped running the marathon this year would show the children "not to give up".

She said she had had "incredible support" from pupils and colleagues.

"I'll definitely be out of my comfort zone but it is for a great cause," she said.

Sixty children from the trust taking part in the TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday will be waiting at the 25-mile point to cheer her on.

Ms Greaves said they would help spur her on during the challenging race.

"I'm hoping they'll give me a boost to the finish line," she added.